Concord man's death ruled accident

Concord Police today said the death of James Nathaniel Mills was an accident, based on results of an autopsy.

On Saturday, Concord officers responded to a report of an unresponsive person outside 299 Odell Drive. Mills was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators later learned that Mills, 52, of 220 Lincoln St., had been involved in a dispute with a woman.

Gilbert William Voorheis tried to intervene. Voorheis and Mills started wrestling, and both men fell off a ledge that was about 6 feet high by the road, police said.

Mills died as a result of striking his head on the pavement, according to the autopsy. The medical examiner said the cause of death was a blow to the back of the head during the fall, and there were no other injuries to Mills, police said.

The police and the Cabarrus County District Attorney's office have ruled the death as accidental and are not filing any criminal charges.

Gail Smith-Arrants: 704-786-2185.

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